Bitcoin Core version 25.0 has recently been made available, bringing a host of new features, bug fixes, and performance enhancements to the software. To obtain the latest version, users can either download it from the official Bitcoin Core website or update their existing installations. The release notes provide comprehensive information about the changes and offer instructions on how to carry out the upgrade.
One noteworthy change in this release is the inclusion of transactions of non-witness size 65 bytes and above. This modification introduces new possibilities and bolsters protections against vulnerabilities such as CVE-2017-12842. Another notable addition is the scanblocks RPC, which facilitates swift wallet rescans by furnishing relevant blockhashes from a set of descriptors.
In terms of RPC updates, all JSON-RPC methods now feature a novel named parameter called "args," enabling the convenient passing of positional parameter values. Furthermore, the verifychain RPC will now return false if checks couldn't be completed at the desired depth and level, granting more precise feedback.
The release encompasses alterations to the build system, updated settings, and fresh features. For instance, the introduction of the shutdownnotify option empowers users to specify a command to execute before Bitcoin Core commences its shutdown sequence. In the wallet section, various RPCs now offer new options like minconf and maxconf, which bestow greater control over UTXO confirmations.
Bitcoin Core 25.0 introduces a multitude of enhancements and optimizations, elevating the user experience and bolstering the software's security. As with any release, it is highly recommended that users promptly report any encountered bugs to the official GitHub issue tracker.
Bitcoin Core enjoys extensive support and rigorous testing on major operating systems, including Linux, macOS, and Windows. Nonetheless, it is advisable to refrain from using Bitcoin Core on unsupported systems. Prior to upgrading to the latest version, users must ascertain that they are employing a compatible operating system. Additionally, users are strongly encouraged to thoroughly review the release notes to gain a comprehensive understanding of the improvements introduced in this version.
